Ok, here's part 2 of Chuck vs The Breakfast Club. For those of you who are wondering about the title, its semi referenced about half way through. After this, I should be writing the interlude titled Chuck vs Something Old & Something New.
I still don't have a beta (so errors are on me) and also still don't own Chuck. So no changes there. Thanks for reading and leaving reviews/feedback/requests....It's really great to know that people are actually reading and (hopefully) enjoying the ride.
Story 3 - Chuck vs The Breakfast Club
Intro Part One - So my name is Chuck and about six months ago, I uploaded an Intersect into my head. What's an Intersect you may ask? Well at this point, I'm not really sure. It started out as a mass of government secrets encoded into images downloaded into my brain but I got the upgraded version and now along with the secrets, I can also acquire random transient physical skills. Cool you say, yes, it would be if I could CONTROL THEM!!!"
Part 2
SIS Safe house, Stuttgart, Germany, 1.02pm, 24st October 2009
Normally it takes about twelve hours to fly to Germany but due to Casey's pull in the air force and using various planes and carriers, they had arrived in record time.
Chuck hated every minute of the flight and the time he didn't spent throwing up in various containers, he spent driving himself crazy with worry as he remembered in fine detail what Carl Metzger would do to his captives. He still held it together though, not because of his training or skills but because he needed to work with both Cole and Casey to bring Sarah home. He also knew that if Metzger thought that Sarah was the intersect (Cole confirmed as much), that he would not harm her too much, knowing that she was worth more alive.
The two men were discussing where Metzger would have taken Sarah and had come up with about fifteen different locations ranging in distance from a few miles to a few hundred due to the time that had elapsed. Chuck knew that they couldn't go through the list, that Metzger was probably trying to set up a deal as quickly as possible. No, they had to draw him out, had to feed into what he wanted. So what did he want.
Cole had been surprised at the changes he saw in Chuck when the young man climbed out of the military jet. Despite the shell shock look and underlying fear, he carried himself with more confidence compared to the last time they had met. Cole knew that part of it probably came about due to Sarah and although he didn't think think that the better man won, he knew that that that was Sarah's choice. He watched Chuck now, as he paced a groove into the floor, seemingly lost in his own head.
"He wants the money, we have to give him the money" Chuck exclaimed, turning on his heels to face both Cole and Casey. He saw the understanding dawn in Cole's eyes and the question in Casey's.
"We know he's not working for any of the terrorist cells we've been monitoring. So he grabbed Sarah because he th..because he knows she's the intersect. He's trying to collect the reward. How much is it now, Casey?"
Cole noticed a few things, not the least being that the dynamic between the two men before him had shifted dramatically since their last meeting. Not only was Casey listening to Chuck but he was still being protective of him, his eyes sweeping the area and always on alert.
"Fifteen million, Twenty, doesn't matter, we don't have that kind of cash"
"We don't but Herr Metzger doesn't know that. We can dummy up something online like we did for Sheik Rashad. Then we just need to arrange for a meet, ask for proof of life and well, I'm assuming you and Cole can take care of the rest?" Chuck hoped it was enough, that they could indeed lure Carl to them with a simple con.
Cole was right in his assessment, Chuck had really changed, he just hoped it was enough to save Sarah. He wasn't sure if he should have told them of the blood he found and pass on Sarah's message. Initially he wasn't sure if Casey would come if he mentioned the blood so he didn't. He needed the Major (Colonel, he corrected himself) if he had any chance of rescuing Sarah and he wasn't sure if he would have come knowing that she was injured and could likely be dead. So he kept that fact to himself. When he saw Chuck, he wanted to give him the message but the lad looked spent and Cole wasn't sure if it would bring him any peace, so again he held off. He knew that Sarah would kick his arse if (when, dammit, when) she found out. He could live with that.
"So, gentlemen, I guess you need a computer"
Militärakademie Bruchsal, Bruschal, Germany (1.47 pm 24st Oct 2009)
Sarah had been awake for the past hour but she did not know where she was or who was watching her so she kept her eyes closed and her breathing timed. She was chained down to an old cot. Her shoulder was still bleeding sluggishly although it had been carelessly dressed. The side of her head was the injury that worried her the most as she was out for more than a few hours and even now, she was still not thinking as clearly as she would have liked. She had been surreptitiously flexing her muscles in order to ensure that they did not tense up when she needed to use them and at the same time was also testing her bonds. As far as she could tell, she was pretty much immobile. Carl had been smart enough to remove her boots, which had a hidden switch blade. He didn't however remove her watch and if she could active the bezel, and release the small spring loaded blade there, she would be on her way to starting her escape.
"I know you are awake" The voice was coming from behind her.
Carl had been observing the agent for some time. She had great control, had timed her breathing to simulate that she was still unconscious while slowly flexing her major muscles. He would have like to have tested her more, to see if she was really as good and as strong as the stories he had heard about her. He needed her alive though if he wanted to collect the sixteen million American dollars he had been offered. At least the instructions did not specify that she would be unhurt.
Sarah finally saw Carl come into view. She was surprised when he began to undo the chain tying her down but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. She curled her right fist and waited for an opportune time.
Carl was expecting her to swing her fist at him but once again, the woman surprised him and instead expertly flipped to her side, grabbed his head in scissor lock with her legs and threw him over the side of the cot. He landed on his back, the wind knock out of him. He could see her struggle to stay upright but doing it anyway as she staggered towards the door. She was truly a great challenge but he knew that he could stop this game at anytime. The small schoolhouse he had commandeered had only four rooms. All the windows had bars on them and both the entrance and exit were blocked with booby traps. She didn't know it yet but she had no where to go. He would enjoy the next hour.
Sarah knew that she hadn't incapacitated Carl but she also knew that in a closed proximity fight, she would eventually lose considering her injuries. Her best bet was to run, to try and make it out if the building. She frantically looked around, her eyes falling on a broom propped against the far wall, it wasn't a gun but it'd have to do. Sarah grabbed it, broke it across her knee and held the two pieces. She realized that Carl was not coming after her either, which meant that he had the place shut tight and he was probably playing with her. She had no choice, now. She had promised Chuck she would do everything in her power to make it back to him and she really tried in this case. But now, she only had one choice left, she had to go back and face Carl. He would be waiting for her and although she knew (hoped) that he did not want her dead, she most certainly wanted to kill him. Not because of what he had done but because she did not want him to ever find Chuck. Sarah took a deep breath, and walked back into the other room. She saw him sitting on the cot, his gun held carelessly in his lap. She saw his smile, never really reaching his eyes, his gold tooth blinking in and out (she really wanted to knock that out). She stood at the entrance, her hands holding the 2 sticks by her side.
"Let's get this over with" she said through gritted teeth. Her vision was beginning to blur and she really wasn't sure how long she would be able to stand upright but she wasn't going to give this piece of garbage the pleasure in seeing her go down. She saw him rise up, put the gun down on the cot and grab the chain that was used to bind her to the cot.
The fight lasted longer than either of them had expected. Sarah had done a couple of incredible feints and got in more than a few good shots, once even nearly choking Carl into unconsciousness as she held the stick tightly across his throat. He was a brawler though, using strength and not skill and had Sarah not been hurt, there was a good chance that she would have won the fight. Unfortunately, he kept going after her shoulder and soon had her laying on the ground curled up, trying her best to protect her head as he repeatedly kicked her viciously, only stopping when he heard the chirping from his disposable cellphone. Apparently, another bid had come in. He bent down, grabbed her wrist and handcuffed it to the cot, whistling as he made his way out of the room.
Sarah was losing consciousness and although it was probably a figment of her addled brain, she could have sworn she could hear Chuck's soothing voice in her head, telling her to hold on, to just be ok.
SIS Safe house, Stuttgart, Germany, 2.22pm, 24st October 2009
Chuck had worked furiously on the computer, ensuring that the secured site closely resembled that of a small reputable financial institution. The Flash of Metzger, had provided him with a contact number as well, it was not a recent one but it seemed to be active and as he pressed the send button, he sent up a prayer to as many deities as he could recollect (Please, please let this work, just hold on, Sarah, please be ok).
Cole hated waiting, he was a man of action, he needed to do more than sit around waiting for a madman to call back. However, he really didn't have the right to demand anything. It was his fault that Sarah had been captured. He had been surprised that Chuck hadn't railed at him when he recounted what had taken place in the warehouse. Casey could not get the look of disdain every time he looked in Cole's direction but Chuck just ignored him and went to work. He began to walk towards Chuck when he felt Casey's hand press down on his fractured forearm which was held snug in a makeshift sling.
"Don't" Casey's voice was soft but the underlying message was clear. He tried to shake Casey's hand off, only to feel the Colonel grab at his shirt and hauled him close "He's barely hanging by a thread and I would strongly advise you to not say another word. You don't get to apologize to him for her capture, you don't get to feel absolution at his expense, got it!"
"Casey, don't", Chuck had been surprised to learn that Cole had been helping Sarah for the past three months. At first, he could not stop the wave of jealousy that swept over him only to just as quickly acknowledge the shame in thinking only of his feelings. She had been on the run, alone, and he should have been relieved that she had found an ally. Adding to that, he could never doubt how much she loved him, not after everything they had gone through. To doubt that, would be to negate their entire relationship and that was never going to happen. "She's going to need all of us" He knew without a doubt that Sarah was still alive and when he found her, he was never going to let her go. He just needed to find her first and he hoped that Carl Metzger was greedy enough to be lured by the twenty five million dollar offer he had put on Sarah's head.
"He's not worth it anyway" Casey let his hands drop. He could hardly believe that less than a year ago, he had considered Cole Barker the epitome of the Spy World and right now, Chuck's actions and words showed what a better operative he was in comparison. Times certainly had changed and Casey had to admit that part of the change was due to Walker's doing. She had finally admitted her feelings for the kid and had stopped the passive aggressive emotional play that was tearing them apart. The only issue now was what would happen if they could not save her. Casey was a soldier first and lived by that code. That meant always being faithful and keeping one's promise. He knew that he had promised her that he would look out for Chuck, should she not make it. He just didn't know if that was actually feasible short of locking him in a padded cell for the rest of his life. God he hoped that things really worked out today. He could not afford anymore ghosts at his back.
The ringing phone startled all three of them. Chuck's expression a cross between hope and fear, his hand hovering but not quite touching the phone. Only Casey's grunt (number 62"Get it together, Moron") finally spurring him into action.
"Do you have the package?" his deep voice not betraying the underlying fear he felt. He nodded at the answer, "We will only deal if proof of life is evidenced, in person". He hoped that he wasn't pushing this, could see both Casey and Cole staring intently at him. Again he nodded, "The money is currently in escrow at the Banco De Republic to be delivered to a Herr Carl Metzger once our transaction is complete. Yes, yes we do know who you are." Chuck paled at the next words heard, his legs nearly giving out and only Cole and John grabbing his arms stopped him from tumbling to the ground. It took every ounce of his will to actually answer the monster who was on the other end of the line "We would prefer alive and unhurt but understand that accidents do happen Herr Metzger. After you have viewed the bank website, we will await for the address where we shall meet. Good Bye."
He had to take a few deep breaths before relaying the conversation to Casey,"She's alive". He saw Cole exhale at his statement and Casey's slow nod, both still silent as they knew that there was more.
"He had to hur.." He couldn't get it out and felt the gorge rise in his throat as he bent over and threw up. He slowly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and knew that if he could not even get through relaying a simple phone conversation, he wasn't remotely ready for the field. "She's hurt but he wouldn't say how badly so we probably need to expect the worse and prepare for a med evac. I'll do the drop and Cole, you and Casey need to do recon and find her. He's not going to bring her with him, not if she's hurt as she'd slow him down so he'll have her stashed somewhere close. You'll give me the signal when you've found her and I'll finish it."
"Signal for what, Bartowski?" Casey did not want it to turn out this way. Walker would have his hide if he let Chuck pull the trigger not in defense but in retaliation. She had always championed the fact the Chuck could be a great spy but only on his terms, he wouldn't make it otherwise. He didn't deserve to have blood on his hands, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. "I'll make the drop" before Chuck could protest, Casey used his trump card "She'd only go with you, if she saw Cole and I, she'd know you'd be out there somewhere putting your stupid ass on the line and she would refuse to come with us until we went to protect your stupid ass" He could see Chuck waver and went in for the kill. "You need to man up and go get your wife, Bartowski"
The phone in Chuck's hand beeped signaling a message and he scrolled only to find a single name "Militärakademie Bruchsal".
"That's on our list. It's an abandoned school in a suburb about fifty miles away. We can be there in half an hour " Cole started to efficiently pack the guns and explosives that Casey had brought, the wait was finally over.
Militärakademie Bruchsal, Bruschal, Germany (2.50pm 24st Oct 2009)
Casey parks two blocks down and kills the engine. "Ready to go to school?"
Chuck semi-laughs at that, even more so when he actually realizes that it's a Saturday and that there would be five people in that school. He had made her watch it when she had asked what his high school experience was like (even then knowing he doesn't get the girl). He knows he's the nerd and Carl's the criminal here, he just wonders who the Princess is. He definitely knows Sarah's going to protest when he tells her the story. That she would ascribe the Jock persona to Casey and take on the mantle of the Basketcase (leave the lying to me, she had said with a wink) and she would definitely call Cole the Princess.
They had driven pass the school and it was a good choice from Metzger's perspective. The entrance and exit both seemed locked tight. The windows were either too small or had 2 inch bars across them. The only way in was through the roof. It was decided that Chuck and Cole would get to the roof from the adjacent building about 12 feet away, it was a big leap but still doable. Casey was suppose to meet Carl in fifteen minutes which gave them enough time to find Sarah and get out of there. Cole had already arranged for a medivac chopper to land about twenty minutes away. Now all they had to do was execute.
Cole lived for the missions, it was the only time he felt really alive. Casey and to a degree, Sarah were cut from the same cloth, they could distance themselves emotionally from what had to be done. Chuck, on the other hand. was different. He was here to rescue his wife and therefore this wasn't just another mission to him. The success or(god forbid) failure of it would change him forever. They had made it to the roof without much trouble. Chuck's running start and leap took him clear pass the edge of the adjacent building and his forward roll broke his fall perfectly. Cole executed the same jump ten seconds later. Now they just had to wait for Casey. In the meantime, Chuck set up his portable thermal imaging infra red camera as Cole anchored their rappelling ropes. The needed to isolate Sarah's position.
Casey answered the phone on the first ring "I'll be there in five", as he gunned the engine and drove towards the abandoned school. He could see Carl standing in the doorway, holding some kind of trigger in his hand.
Casey's German was rusty but it was good enough to distract Metzger from not recognizing his voice "I thought this was a friendly exchange?" Casey said as he stepped out of the car, carrying a briefcase.
Carl was surprised that the man, who was clearly American, was speaking to him in German. The phone call and bank site link showed that they were indeed willing to pay a higher price than his first offer and knowing that such high sums of money would certainly make him a target as well, he was glad to close the deal so quickly. However, he was still a cautious man and had rigged the entire back of the building with explosives. The trigger in his hand was linked to the central switch that was currently attached to the body of one Sarah Walker. If he wanted to, he could activate it himself or if by some chance, the woman was being moved, well she would only get five feet before it activated."I have not indicated otherwise, I'm just a cautious man. Shall we begin?"
Cole had started to cut through the spot Chuck had indicated, the minute Casey got out of his car. Soon, they could see the room below bathed in shadows, a prone figure on the floor arm stretched out and cuffed to the cot. Both Chuck and Cole rappelled downwards, Chuck running towards Sarah as soon as he could unhooked his rope. She looked like she was asleep but he could see that her breaths were labored, "Sarah, sweetheart, wake up" He gently gathered her in his arms as Cole picked the lock of the handcuffs. She moaned and to Chuck, it was the most beautiful sound in the world or at least the second most beautiful as he heard her murmur his name "Ch..Chuck?"
Sarah had floated in and out of consciousness since the fight with Metzger. She remembered dreaming about Chuck and then his face morphed into Metzger's as he roughly attached something around her waist. She knew she was back to hallucinating again as she could hear Chuck's voice. But it didn't sound right. Instead of the soothing tone with a hint of a smile she had been hearing, this was a more urgent one, laced with fear. He sounded so close, her head hurt and she tried to open her eyes.
"That's it, you have to wake up, we need to get out of here" Chuck had never felt like this, the dichotomy of feelings both fighting for his attention;relief at finding Sarah alive and the burning anger felt at the pit of his stomach as he visually cataloged Sarah's injuries. He had told Casey he didn't think he would ever feel like killing someone. Even when Mauser threatened Ellie, he just wanted him put away. Right now, he wasn't sure if he would not pull the trigger if Metzger stood before him.
Cole who had been monitoring the conversation outside while trying to give Chuck some privacy suddenly turned around knelt beside them and lifted Sarah's shirt.
"What is that?" Chuck asked.
"It's a wireless switch. Carl's rigged up the building and if we remove that, it'll blow. I think if we move it more than a few feet, it'll blow up as well."
"So what do we do?" Chuck asked, panic seeping back into his voice.
"You…you get …the hell out ….of …here right …now" Sarah put as much command into her voice as she could. She couldn't believe that not only was Cole here but Chuck was as well. She prayed she was dreaming, that this was just all in her head and that Chuck Bartowski wasn't cradling her in a godforsaken abandoned building rigged to explode at any second. She tried to sit up, only cry out in pain as the broken ribs pressed into her side due to the secured electronic belt Carl had put on her earlier. Still, she grabbed the front of his shirt, needing to hold some part of him.
"Sarah, don't" Chuck did not want to panic, he had been training for months, had endured lonely nights and nightmares of Sarah dying. Now he was here, in the field, Sarah's life depending on him. He needed to Flash, he really needed to step up and be that guy. Be the hero she kept talking about. The one she married, the guy she risked her life for everyday. He needed to do it for Sarah and suddenly, the familiar sensation washed over him, the binary numbers scrolling before his eyes then Schematics, Fermat's theorem, Heads on Easter island, an old German Luger, a microchip, Heads on Easter island.
"Guys, I know what to do" Chuck announced confidently, the Flash, a bit more intense than normal but providing him the clarity and skill he needed, as he took out his small tool kit and went to work on the switch.
Cole, not really understanding what had happened but knowing that the place could blow up with one wrong move, tried to stop Chuck only to have Sarah's words stop him "Cole…it's ok, let…him do this…"She was really fighting to say awake, each breath hurt but she wanted to look at Chuck, not because she couldn't remember what he looked like but because she was afraid that if she closed her eyes, he would disappear. But the past twenty four hours had really taken its toll and Sarah's grip on Chuck's shirt loosen as her eyes shut on their own volition and she slipped back into unconsciousness.
"You flashed" It wasn't a question Cole was posing. He had seen a similar reaction in Sarah during their time together. She had told him that they were the Flashes that provided them with information on what to do next. Information that had saved their lives on occasion. "She said she was the only one, you bastard" Cole was livid. Chuck still had the ability to flash and yet it was Sarah that they hung out to dry. She was the one being targeted, hunted and forced to be on the run. If Chuck didn't have his hands on the switch, Cole would have decked him right there.
Chuck understood Cole's anger but now was not the time and even if he wanted to, he couldn't explain to Cole that it was never his choice to let her go and that she loved him too much to stay. Sarah had passed out and her breathing seemed so much more labored, they had to get her to the chopper soon. His Flash had not only given him the schematics for the switch but it also gave him the skills to dismantle it. Disarming it was impossible once it was set, but dismantling it in a certain order would diffuse it all the same. He finally removed the last connector ring and knew that the switch was dead. "You can remove the belt now".
Cole cut through the belt and waited until Chuck placed Sarah gently back onto the cot before turning back towards the man and letting his free hand fly at Chuck's face.
Chuck knew he should have just stood there and taken the punch. Cole at least deserved that and so did he. But they were still in the middle of a mission so he deftly side-stepped, used Cole's momentum to push him forward and then jerked him back into a choke hold like Casey taught him. "Now I do deserve that and I'll give you a free pass once we are free and clear, but right now, Sarah needs to get to that chopper and I'm going to get her there with or without you. Do you understand?"
"Yes" Cole at least sounded contrite if not still angry. Chuck gently put the harness on Sarah and clipped himself onto the rope. With the mechanized pulley Cole had rigged, the managed to make their way back onto the roof and then rappelled down north face of the building, Cole then informing Casey that they had Sarah and would meet him back at the extraction point.
Carl was beginning to get nervous, the American had said all the right things but it just did not feel right. He had capitulated too easily, not as anxious as he sounded over the phone. Then he noticed it, the man was wearing a earwig, it was the way he would cock his head every two minutes or so. Just a small tell but a noticeable one if you were looking. Carl needed to end it now, the man and his accomplices were planning something. He could still come out of this ahead. The money was being held in the bank that they had shown him, the password in the briefcase. All he had to do was take down the American and blow up the building. Carl stepped out of the building and smiled at the man. He expected to see a look of surprise but instead saw the American smiling back.
Finally, Casey was going to have some fun. He had held his temper in check as he dealt with Metzger while listening in on Chuck and Cole. Had heard Chuck's gasp as they found Sarah. Hearing her faint voice was the only thing stopping him from reaching out to choking Metzger as he recounted having to subdue her. He saw Metzger walking towards him, his smile prominently showing his gold tooth. Casey smiled back and swung his briefcase in an arc, catching him straight in the mouth, blood and the tooth flying out. Metzger fell to the ground, one hand covering his head, the other frantically pressing down on the trigger, hoping that it would stop the man before him. The lack of explosion, took him by surprise and he scrambled backwards, his hand now reaching for his gun.
Casey didn't want to waste too much time, so he went after Metzger with a tackle, grabbed his gun and shot him through his hand, the next shot going through his left foot. Metzger's chirping phone the only thing stopping him from his next shot. Its not like him to stop halfway through a job but he looks at the message on the phone and is glad he does. Although he wants very much to finish this, he knows now they needed Metzger alive, so he stops, bundles him into the car and drives to the airport.
Military A330 Jet, Somewhere over the North Atlantic Ocean, 6.10am , 25th October 2009
"She finally asleep?" Casey had hoped she would be, had not wanted to face her wrath knowing how much it would take out of her and that she really needed her strength. He knows she's going to ream him out about bringing Chuck along and putting him in danger but the kid proved himself. Not only that, but he had managed to force flash. Perhaps they had gone about this the wrong way, that as much as Sarah needed Chuck alive and safe, he needed her to focus and flash.
Chuck does not look up and just nods at the question, his hand grasped firmly in hers as he sits by the makeshift bed.
"She finally let them give her a sedative after I promised I wouldn't move from this spot" Sarah's injuries although not life threatening, still scared him. He had never seen her so hurt in his life. The fights she had encountered back in California and the injuries she received were mild compared to what she had to endure in Germany. When Casey brought Carl Metzger, alive, to the airport, he had nearly lost it. He remembers Sarah holding on to him, not firmly but the gentle pressure, the only thing stopping him from attacking Metzger right there. Casey had handed him off to Cole then and made his way over. He tells Chuck to trust him and that he may have found a way to bring the fight to the Ring, once and for all.
"You sure, your plan's going to work?" he asked, finally looking up at Casey.
"It'd better, we're going to bet both your lives on it" Casey answers.
The End
So how was it???
